'The Birthday Party' At Signal Ensemble Theatre

 

Signal Ensemble Theatre kicks off its sixth season with a 50th anniversary production of Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party, directed by ensemble member Aaron Snook.  First produced in April 1958, The Birthday Party follows Stanley Webber, a retired pianist, who has left his life as a concert pianist behind and settled into a quiet seaside boarding house. One day two strangers roll into town on a mission to take him away. With comedy and suspense, the piece is still a relevant commentary on the ways in which the powerful affect the life of the individual. The show runs approximately two hours and 15 minutes with two intermissions.
 
One of Pinter's favorite charities, Amnesty International, will receive $5 from every ticket sold on Saturday, August 2.
                                  
WHERE:             Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division Ave.
                        Street parking; Division Blue Line Division stop; #9, 70, and 
                        56 buses
                        Free parking available at Holy Trinity Church 

WHEN:              Opens Monday, July 28, 2008, 7 p.m.
                        Closes August 30, 2008
                        Runs Thurs, Fri and Sat at 8 p.m., and Sun at 3 p.m.
                        Previews July 26 at 8 pm • July 27 at 7 pm                   
 
TICKETS:           773-347-1350; www.signalensemble.com
                        $15 on Thursdays and Sundays
                        $20 on Fridays and Saturdays
                        $10 for previews on July 26 and 27
                        $10 for industry members with resume/headshot/card
                        Student and senior (with ID) discounts available; also         
                        for groups of 15 or more
          
Signal ensemble members Aaron Snook (Director), Stephanie Ehemann (Stage Manager), Anthony Ingram (Sound Design), and artistic associate Melania Lancy (Scenic Design).  With guest artists Elise Kauzlaric (Dialect Coach), Elsa Hiltner (Costume Design), Sue Ragusa (Lighting Design), and Cassie Soliday (Properties Design).  Signal Ensemble's Artistic Directors are Ronan Marra and Joseph Stearns.
 
Signal ensemble members Vincent Lonergan (Petey), Joseph Stearns (Stanley), and Philip Winston (McCann). With guest artists Mary O'Dowd (Meg), Leah Nuetzel (Lulu), and Will Schutz (Goldberg).
 
Coming Up:

Signal Ensemble Theatre's sixth season continues with John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation, directed by Artistic Director Ronan Marra (runs November-December 2008); and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Jay Presson Allen, based on the novel by Muriel Spark, also directed by Marra (runs March-April 2009).
 
Signal Ensemble was recently nominated for seven 2007-2008 non-Equity Jeff Awards – five for their production of 1776 - Production-Musical, Best Director Ronan Marra, Costume Design Laura M. Dana - in addition to Philip Winston (Actor in a Principal Role Musical), and Vincent  Lonergan (Actor in a Supporting Role Musical). Both Lonergan and Shawn Pfautsch were nominated as Actor in a Principal Role Play for Old Wicked Songs as well.
 
Founded in 2003 by Ronan Marra, Christopher Prentice and Joseph Stearns, Signal Ensemble Theatre is known for its ensemble acting and producing a diverse slate of plays that range from classics to new works. Signal uses the actor as the focal point to clearly execute the playwright's vision.

Signal Ensemble Theatre can be reached at 773-347-1350, info@signalensemble.com or on their website www.signalensemble.com.

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